WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

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1 1 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY School of Nursing School of Nursing Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center PO Box 9600 Suite 100 Morgantown, WV Phone Fax Doctor of Nursing Practice Student Handbook

2 2 Contents Welcome from the Dean... 5 Program Description... 6 Vision and Mission Statement... 7 Accreditation... 7 Program Goals... 8 Progression Plan... 9 Post-MSN to DNP Progression Plan... 9 Modified Part-Time DNP Progression Plan DNP Courses Student Participation in Online Courses Technology Requirements for DNP Program WVU Student System Distance Course Delivery ecampus Blackboard Collaborate Computer / Internet Information Computer Specifications Internet Standards Webcast Computer Help Desk Computer skills Computer Labs Morgantown Computer Lab Charleston Computer Lab Course Registration Academic Integrity... 16

3 3 Academics Admission Status Academic Advisor Plan of Study Policy on Use of DNP Credential Maintenance of RN Licensure and APRN Certification Incomplete Grades Credit Loads WVU Student ID Card HIPAA Requirements Criminal Background, Immunization, and Drug Testing Registration for Courses Writing Expectations Responsible Conduct of Research Progression and Graduation Standards Transfer of Course Work Credit by Advanced Standing Guidelines Degree Requirements Health Insurance and Responsibility for Medical Expenses Requirements School of Nursing Financial Aid Meritorious Student Tuition Waiver Other Forms of Financial Aid Tuition and Transportation Graduation Precepted Clinical Immersion (Clinical Placement) DNP Capstone Process, Timeline, and Structure Preparing and Defending the Proposal Approval of Capstone Proposal IRB Submission Project Implementation... 32

4 4 Final Project Report and Oral Defense Oral Defense ETD Submission Appendix 1: WVU School of Nursing Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy Appendix 2: Consent Form for Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Testing Appendix 3: WVU Sponsored Health Insurance Waiver Appendix 4: Community Service Guidelines Appendix 5: Contract to Remove Grade of Incomplete Appendix 6: Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit to West Virginia University Appendix 7: Application for Advanced Standing Examination Appendix 8: Verification Form: Precepted Post BSN Clinical Hours Appendix 9: Responsible Conduct of Research Policy Appendix 10: WVU School of Nursing Writing Rubric Appendix 11: Capstone Proposal Outline Appendix 12: Final Capstone Project Report Outline Appendix 13: Projected Capstone Timeline Appendix 14: Graduate Faculty Appendix 15: Graduation Checklist... 61

5 5 Welcome from the Dean W e are excited to be involved with our colleagues in the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in implementing a vision for health care in the 21st century, founded in WVU's history of excellence and service, with true social responsibility. We continue to be guided by our Vision: West Virginia University School of Nursing envisions optimal health, enhanced quality of life, and excellent health care for the people of West Virginia and the global community. Nursing faculty and students are bringing nurses, nursing education and research, and advanced practice health care to serve the public in both urban and rural areas. The WVU School of Nursing remains committed to providing the highest levels of undergraduate professional nursing education, while expanding opportunities for graduate education. Our MSN program continues to prepare nurse practitioners for WV with faculty who are experts in using technology with "high touch" skills. Our two doctoral programs, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - the highest level of nursing practice, and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for nurses desiring a teaching and research career are off and running well. Our programs are committed to building access with success throughout the state - regional campus support for undergraduates, online MSN and DNP programs, and a summer option for the PhD. I look forward to "meeting" you all - virtually or in person.

6 6 Program Description T he West Virginia University School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program prepares advanced practice nurses to practice at the highest level of professional nursing. DNP graduates advance the application of nursing knowledge through the translation and implementation of evidence for practice to improve health outcomes for diverse populations. This expert level practice builds on past advanced practice education, experience, and certification. The DNP program is a credit post-msn program that can be completed in approximately 8 semesters, depending on length of the capstone project. A slower progression is available as well and is individualized with the academic advisor. It is University Policy that students employed in full-time work should enroll for no more than six hours of doctoral level course work at any time. Throughout the curriculum, students are guided in the processes of self-development aimed at pursuing excellence in scholarly, clinical, and professional endeavors. Courses are offered via web-based modalities. Courses are scheduled in the late afternoon at times convenient for working students. The student plan of study is customized and requires 1000 post baccalaureate, precepted clinical hours, which can include previous precepted Master s level clinical courses, with a minimum of 300 clinical hours to be earned at the DNP level. The program includes a Capstone Project. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), doctoral education is distinguished by the completion of a specific project that demonstrates synthesis of the student s work and lays the groundwork for future clinical scholarly work directed at improving health or organizational outcomes in the area of focus. The DNP curriculum primarily involves mastery of an advanced specialty within nursing practice and methods of practice improvement and change. The DNP Capstone Project is used to demonstrate mastery of the DNP curricular content. Guided by faculty, and with assistance of an expert in the area of interest, the DNP Capstone project demonstrates the student s ability to identify a practice or system related problem through clinical immersion, synthesize and critically appraise the evidence related to addressing that practice problem, negotiate within the system to implement evidence based change within an organization, implement that change, and systematically measure the results of the practice or system related change initiative. The DNP Capstone Project documents outcomes of the student s educational experiences, and summarizes the student s growth in knowledge and expertise. The DNP Capstone Project experience serves as a foundation for leadership in future scholarly practice within the clinical setting.

7 7 School of Nursing Vision and Mission Statement W est Virginia University School of Nursing envisions optimal health, enhanced quality of life, and excellent health care for the people of West Virginia and the global community. The mission of the West Virginia University School of Nursing is to lead in improving health in West Virginia and the broader society through excellence in student-centered educational programs, research and scholarship, the compassionate practice of nursing, and service to the public and profession. Accreditation The School of Nursing s graduate and undergraduate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In the Fall of 2008, the School of Nursing was visited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and in the Spring of 2009, the School received full accreditation. The accreditation will be effective until 2019 for the BSN and MSN programs. Because it was new, the DNP program received 5-year accreditation. A second CCNE visit focusing on the DNP program occurred in the Fall of At that time, the DNP program received full accreditation through 2024.CCNE accreditation applies to all WVU School of Nursing programs regardless of the campus on which the programs are offered. West Virginia University s educational programs, including all doctoral programs, are accredited by the North Central Accrediting Commission for Higher Learning.

8 8 Program Goals A t the completion of the program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate will be able to practice at the highest professional level to: 1. Use science-based theories and concepts to: Determine the nature and significance of health and health care delivery phenomena, Describe actions and advance strategies to improve health care delivery, and Develop, deliver, and evaluate theory-based health care. 2. Demonstrate organizational and systems leadership that emphasizes the primacy of clinical work, continually improving health outcomes, and ensuring patient safety. 3. Use analytical methods and research to develop best practices and practice guidelines and to facilitate the evaluation of systems of care that will improve patient outcomes. 4. Use information systems and technology-based resources that support clinical and administrative decision making, care systems, nurse-sensitive outcomes, and quality improvement. 5. Assume a leadership role in the development of health care policy. 6. Establish, participate, and lead inter-professional teams. 7. Utilize a strong conceptual foundation in clinical prevention and population health. 8. Base practice on biophysical, psychosocial, sociopolitical, cultural, economic, and nursing science and ethics. 9. Develop, implement, and evaluate practice and care delivery models, which are politically and culturally appropriate. Adapted from AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice

9 9 Post-MSN to DNP Progression Plan Progression Plan Fall Spring Summer Year 0 N708: DNP Role Seminar 2 Year 1 N702:Population Health Promotion N724: Health Care Statistics N707:Evidence Based Practice N703:Theory of Practice 3 3 Total 6 Total 6 N709:Health Care Informatics 3 N704: Health Care Leadership 3 N760: Clinical Project 3 Year 2 N711: Focused Study: Health Care Issues Total 3 6 N710: Health Policy/Resource Management Total 3 6 N763: Capstone (must total a minimum of 6 credits by end of program) 1 Year 3 N745:Clinical Immersion (must total 1000 credits post BSN by end of program) N763: Capstone (must total a minimum of 6 credits by end of program) N745:Clinical Immersion (must total 1000 precepted clinical hours post BSN by end of program) N763:Capstone (must total a minimum of 6 credits by end of program) N713: DNP Role Application Seminar Total Credits: (depending on numbers of clinical hours required at DNP level and length of time for capstone) Total 5-14 Prerequisites to this program include: Total 6-14 Completion of a nationally accredited (NLNAC or CCNE) Master of Science in Nursing program with transcripts evaluated for equivalent courses to WVUSON courses in: 1. Advanced Pathophysiology 2. Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (for prescribers) 3. Advanced Health Assessment 4. Research Process National certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse in one of the areas recognized by the State of WV for Announcement of Advanced Practice is also a required pre-requisite to the program.

10 10 Modified Part-Time DNP Progression Plan Year/Semester Course Y0/Summer N708 DNP Role Seminar Y1/Fall N724 Health Care Statistics Y1/Spring N703 Theory of Practice Y2/Fall N702 Population Health Promotion Y2/Spring N707 Evidence Based Practice Y3/Fall N709 Health Care Informatics Y3/Spring N704 Health Care Leadership Y4/Fall N711 Clinical Focus Y4/Spring N710 Health Policy/Resource Management Y4/Summer N745 Clinical Immersion* Y5/Fall N745 Clinical Immersion* Y5/Spring N745 Clinical Immersion* Y5/Summer N760 Clinical Project Y6/Fall N763 Capstone** Y6/Spring N763 Capstone** Y6/Summer N763 Capstone** Y6/Summer N713 DNP Role Application Seminar^ *(must total 1000 precepted clinical hours post-bsn by end of program) **(must total a minimum of 6 credits by end of program) ^This course is taken in the final semester of the program.

11 11 DNP Courses NSG 702. Population Health Promotion. 3 Hours. Provides a foundation for analysis of clinical prevention and population health programs or individuals, aggregates, and populations. NSG 703. Theory of Practice. 3 Hours. Provides an understanding of the scientific underpinnings of the application of theory to health care at the highest level of advanced nursing practice. NSG 704. Health Care Leadership. 3 Hours. PR: NSG 703. Critical analysis of leadership in the health care setting with development of skills needed to organize care and lead practice change. NSG 707. Evidence Based Practice. 3 Hours. PR or CONC: NSG 703. Prepares the DNP student to translate research into practice, evaluate practice guidelines to improve health care practices and outcomes, and to participate in collaborative research. NSG 708. DNP Role Seminar. 2 Hours. Provides an understanding of the Doctor of Nursing Practice role at the highest level of nursing practice. NSG 709. Health Care Informatics. 3 Hours. PR: NSG 707.Explore information technologies used in acute and outpatient health settings and describe methods of utilization of technology for practice improvement and patient outcomes management. NSG 710. Health Policy/Resource Management. 3 Hours. PR: NSG 711.The foundation for leadership in health policy development, implementation, and evaluation, with a focus on advocacy for nursing, social justice, and equity. Financial resource management for nursing leadership and policy/ program implementation. NSG 711. Focused Study: Health Care Issues. 3 Hours. Provides an opportunity to develop requisite knowledge and mastery of skills relative to the state of the science in a particular area of clinical practice. NSG 713. DNP Role Application. 1 Hour. PR or CONC: NSG 763. Integration of Doctor of Nursing practice role competencies at the highest level of nursing practice. NSG 724. Health Research Statistics. 3 Hours. Provides development of statistical knowledge and skills needed for quantitative health research using SPSS. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, chi-square testing, linear regression, and logistic regression. NSG 745. Clinical Immersion. 1-8 Hours. PR: NSG 711. Provides for the mastery of clinical skills relative to the state of the science in a particular area of clinical practice. NSG 760. Clinical Project. 3 Hours. PR: NSG 711.Develop a scholarly initiative to improve practice system, or patient outcomes. NSG 763. DNP Capstone. 1-6 Hours. PR: NSG 760. Implementation of a capstone project using leadership skills to create and evaluate change relative to a practice problem. Analysis of the relationship of the project to practice and policy.

12 12 Student Participation in Online Courses Courses are offered online. Students in online courses have the professional responsibility to devote their full attention to the class while it is in session, just as they would in a traditional classroom setting. Students may not engage in patient care in the workplace while attending an online class session. If a student is permitted by an employer to participate in an online course during working hours, he or she must do so away from the clinical setting and only after being completely relieved of patient responsibilities. Students will not be permitted to make up course work or testing that is missed if called back to the workplace unless arrangements have been made with the course faculty member ahead of time. Technology Requirements for DNP Program The DNP Program at WVU makes use of the latest in technological advances. You will need to have access to appropriate hardware, software, and systems to be successful. The following is a guide and recommendations for technology. WVU Student System All students in the University have access to through the Mountaineer Information Express (MIX) system. You must use this system for all DNP coursework and any WVU SON communication. No other addresses will be used by faculty or administrators to contact you or to notify you of course related or program related information. You can access MIX from any computer where you have internet access. The address for MIX is To access your MIX account, you will need a user name and password. To find your user name: 1. Go to 2. Click on STAR Access 3. Click on STAR Information system login 4. Enter your Student Number (9 digit number starting with 70 or 80) found in your admission letter and pin (see below for PIN information) 5. Click on Personal Information 6. Click on View Address(es) and Phone(s) 7. If a MIX account has been created for you, a MIX username and address section will be displayed To find your pin: The default password for all accounts is 6 digits, two digits for the day of your birthday and the last 4 digits of your Student Number. Ex: If your birthday is 05/03/1974 and your Student Number is then your default password is Again, your student number is found in your admission letter.

13 13 You can change your password online inside of MIX. To do so: 1. Select the STAR tab 2. Select STAR Information System link 3. Select Personal Information 4. Select Change your PIN for STAR, MIX & ecampus (PIN must contain 6 digits) You should access MIX as soon as possible. The SON and faculty will send you important information through this account. You will be accountable for any information found in your MIX . The MIX homepage has a great tutorial that you should complete before your classes begin. Use MIX to your best advantage during your program! Distance Course Delivery The courses you will take in the DNP program will be delivered via distance education technologies. ecampus is the WVU distance education platform. Technologies used within ecampus include Collaborate and Webcast. ecampus Once you are registered for coursework, one day prior to the beginning of the summer semester you will be able to access your courses online via ecampus at When you sign onto your MIX account, the courses for which you are registered will appear. When you click on the course name, you will automatically be taken to the ecampus site for your course. You will follow the directions found on this course web site to access course materials. Typically, you will want to first find and review the Syllabus to begin your course. Helpful information on how to use ecampus can be found on our website at This web page has a number of helpful sections. You should begin by reading the information in Introduction to WVU ecampus for Students. Blackboard Collaborate Blackboard Collaborate delivers synchronous real-time online classes. You will be able to access each course you are enrolled in via WVU s ecampus. When you log into ecampus, on the home page of each course you will see links to the Collaborate sessions. You will be an active participant in the Collaborate sessions, discussing issues using your microphone or answering live poll questions. Because exchange of ideas is an important function of University education, you are required to be present for these real-time Collaborate sessions, unless otherwise instructed by faculty. As a student you need to be sure your computer meets the following requirements to participate in Collaborate: Computer / Internet Information Computer Specifications Supported Browsers and Operating system for ecampus and Collaborate are available at

14 14 OIT has recommended computer specifications for PC, MAC, hardware, software, modem, Ethernet adapter, and other devices at Internet Standards A wireless internet connection is not recommended. Collaborate works best with a wired internet connection. Soundcard with microphone and speakers. Collaborate requires using headsets instead of external speakers or microphones, particularly built-in microphones of laptops. You must complete the Audio Wizard as soon as possible to be sure that your computer supports Collaborate. You should complete the wizard on every computer that you will use to access coursework. You may need to repeat the audio wizard each time you access Collaborate. You will need to have high speed internet access through a cable modem, DSL, or satellite. Please be advised that when you purchase your high speed internet access there is usually an additional cost for the fastest connectivity. Consult your internet service providers regarding your connection speed for your membership. It is in your best interest to purchase the fastest speed your internet service provider offers. We understand that DSL and high-speed cable are not available in some rural areas and students must resort to high-speed satellite internet service. Dial-up connections do not work with this technology. If dial-up is the only access you have from home, we recommend looking for alternate sites to attend class where you can get high-speed connection. Microsoft Office (includes Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook) is required for all School of Nursing coursework. Webcast Webcast technology is used for many of the asynchronous lectures that you will be watching in your home, place of employment (when off-duty), or local library. Webcast uses web-based streaming video and synchronized multimedia presentation. The West Virginia University School of Nursing has adopted webcast technology to deliver some core graduate nursing content. Computer Help Desk Phone: Toll Free: Help Desk OITHelp@mail.wvu.edu Fall & Spring Help Desk Hours: M-Th., 8:15 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Fri., 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sun., 4:00 p.m midnight

15 15 If you encounter problems any time during online coursework, the Help Desk should be able to assist you. You should not call the instructor for help with technical problems. Before you call the help desk, please determine what version of Internet Explorer and Microsoft media player you are running, and which online delivery system you are using (i.e. ecampus, Collaborate, webcast). Computer skills You are expected to be familiar with operating and using electronic technology. The skills of word processing on Microsoft Word, database utilization, internet competence, and know-how, including the use of attachments, are essential to course work in the MSN program. It is an expectation that you are proficient with these computer skills. We recommend you visit for online tutorials to help with Microsoft Office product use. If you need to update your general computer skills, you may want to obtain the following book: Joos, I., Nelson, R., and Smith, M., (2010) Introduction to Computers for Health Care Professionals 5 th Edition. MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Computer Labs Morgantown Computer Lab The Health Sciences Center Computer Based Learning Center (CBLC) offers a computer lab on the 2nd floor of Health Sciences Center South. The lab contains both PC and Macintosh computers. The computers are supported by a local area network that provides Internet access. Charleston Computer Lab The Charleston Division offers computer access for students in the HSC Library (1st Floor). Library computers have access to Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Cochrane Library, and Nursing Primary care programs. There may also be computer labs available at your place of employment, local or community college, or public library. Course Registration You will need your WVU Identification Number and WVU MIX address (instructions for getting this address are above) in order to register for courses. Graduate Registration Instructions 1. Point your browser to 2. You will see the Mountaineer Information Xpress with the MIX Login Screen 3. Enter your Username and Password. If your MIX account is jdoe@mix.wvu.edu, then your Username is jdoe. If you were admitted to the University after July 11, 2004 your password is your 2-digit day of birth and the last 4 digits of your WVU ID 4. Click OK

16 16 5. On the next page, click the STAR tab on the top 6. Click Click here to enter STAR on the center of the page. You are now connected to STAR 7. Select the Student Services, Housing link. 8. Select Registration link 9. Click on Select Term link. Use the pull down option to select desired term. Click on Submit 10. Select Add or Drop Classes link 11. Enter each CRN in the blocks and click on the Submit Changes button 12. You can review your schedule by selecting the Student Schedule or Student Detail Schedule links 13. If you have selected courses that have variable credits or multiple grading modes, i.e., pass/fail, audit you can make changes by choosing the Change Class Options link 14. Congratulations, you are now registered for classes 15. Remember, once you have completed Registration, close your browser to protect your privacy 16. If you are in STAR longer than 20 minutes MIX will time-out due to inactivity on the MIX pages Academic Integrity In accordance with the WVU Graduate Catalog, academic integrity is expected of all members of the WVU community. Academic dishonesty is condemned at all levels of life, indicating an inability to meet and face issues and creating an atmosphere of mistrust, disrespect, and insecurity. Academic dishonesty, includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating and dishonest practices, forgery, misrepresentation or fraud. Academic integrity is expected in all activities, including those that occur online. Academic dishonesty can result in exclusion from the course, a lower grade and/or an unforgivable F in the course. The Dean may also impose additional penalties. Academic dishonesty will also be reported by faculty to the WV Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses for their consideration relative to disciplinary action against the student s RN license. Admission Status Academics Your admission status appears in your admission letter. A student admitted as provisional must meet the provisions stated in the letter of admission by the deadline indicated in the letter. Once provisions have been met, the advisor will request a change of student s status to regular admission. If the provisions are not met within the time allotted, you will be dismissed from the program.

17 17 Academic Advisor On admission, students are assigned an Academic Advisor. The DNP Core Coordinator serves as academic advisor for all students until a Capstone chairperson has been appointed. Once the Capstone chairperson has been approved, he or she becomes the academic advisor. The DNP Core Coordinator identifies an initial plan of progression for the program to ensure that students will successfully complete all requirements for graduation. Students meet with the DNP Core Coordinator to complete the Progression Plan. Any changes in the Progression Plan must be processed with the DNP Core Coordinator and sent to the Associate Dean for Graduate Practice Programs for approval. Students are expected to contact their advisor each semester before registering for courses. It is expected that students will phone or e- mail the advisor in advance to set up appointments. Every effort is made by the faculty to accommodate students schedules. Failure to follow the agreed upon progression plan will result in delays in the student s progression, as courses are typically only offered once per academic year. The student is responsible for following the correct progression plan. Students must be sure that a correct home and work phone number as well as address are on record with both the advisor and the Office of Student Services. If such information changes, notify your advisor, Student Services, and the University Office of Admissions and Records immediately. Plan of Study A plan of study form is completed by the student and academic advisor at the end of the 6 th semester (completion of the Clinical Project course). The form must be signed by the student and his/her Academic Advisor and submitted to the Associate Dean for Graduate Practice Programs who signs the form. The advisor is responsible for initiating the form, obtaining signatures, and submitting it. A copy of the Plan of Study stays in the student s file and the original is submitted to the Health Sciences Graduate Program Office for final approval. When approved by the Health Sciences Graduate Programs Office, the Plan becomes a binding agreement between the student, the DNP Program, and the Health Sciences Graduate Program Office of WVU. Requests for a change in the plan of study should be submitted in writing to Jeff Wilson at jfwilson@hsc.wvu.edu. For a minor change in the approved plan of study, a letter of request should be submitted to the Health Sciences Programs Office after written concurrence has been obtained by the advisor and the student. Major changes in plan of study will require that a revised Plan of Study Form be submitted for approval to the Health Sciences Graduate Programs Office. The original approved Plan of Study Form will be returned to the Associate Dean for Graduate Practice Programs.

18 18 Policy on Use of DNP Credential There is no candidacy in the DNP program. Students may not use DNP(c) or DNP(s) while still enrolled in the program. Students should continue to use only the degree initials that have been earned. It is appropriate to state that one is a DNP student in text form, i.e., in the biographical information that accompanies a published article, paper presentation, or poster. It is acceptable to use the DNP credential only after one has successfully completed the DNP program. Maintenance of RN Licensure and APRN Certification All DNP students are required to maintain continuous RN licensure and APRN certification during enrollment in the DNP program. If a student s RN license and/or APRN certification is renewed during the program, the student should provide documentation of this renewal to the advisor. If the student s RN license lapses or becomes encumbered due to a disciplinary action, or the APRN certification lapses, the student can be dismissed from the DNP program. Incomplete Grades The grade of I is given when the instructor believes that the course work is unavoidably incomplete or that a supplementary examination is justifiable. A grade of I is not appropriate to avoid an unsatisfactory failing grade in a course. A Contract to Remove Grade of Incomplete should be completed by the student and instructor before a grade of I is given, or during the first two weeks following the term during which the I was given. The contract should clearly explicate the work necessary to remove the grade of I, the date for completion, and the grade to be given if the work is not complete. The student, the Associate Dean, the student's advisor and the faculty should receive a copy of the contract. Contracts are a binding agreement between the faculty member and student. The contract form is found in the final section of this handbook (Appendix 5). Any grade of I that is not resolved by the end of the following semester will automatically revert to the grade of F. Students may not progress to additional coursework if an I remains in any course that is pre- requisite to the course(s) to which the student intends to enroll. Credit Loads It is University Policy that students employed in full-time work should enroll in no more than six hours of doctoral level course work at any time. Graduate students should plan for a minimum of one classroom hour per registered credit per week and three outside hours of preparation per registered credit per week (e.g. 5 credits = 5 classroom hours/week, 15 outside hours/week =20 hours/week). This rule should be taken into consideration when planning your work and school time.

19 19 WVU Student ID Card Students who wish to obtain a WVU Student Identification card must have paid the special fees included in their tuition and fees invoice. To get the ID card, take a copy of the paid invoice to the student ID Office in the Mountainlair or to the Student Services Office in Charleston. The personnel there will validate the invoice and take a picture. The cards are usually ready in five to seven working days. Students must have a photo ID when picking up the card. HIPAA Requirements All students are required to provide verification of HIPAA training from their place of employment. Students who have not had HIPAA training, must complete the training prior to the first week of nursing classes. All students enrolled in the West Virginia University School of Nursing graduate programs are required to provide verification or complete training on the Federal Law Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Criminal Background, Immunization, and Drug Testing Clinical facilities require that students are fit for duty in their facilities. To that end, all students are required to complete the Immunization and Criminal Background check forms online. The results of these must be requested and received by the School of Nursing by the semester prior to Clinical Immersion. Felony convictions and some serious misdemeanors may preclude participation in clinical rotations. This could, in turn, prevent the completion of clinical course requirements and completion of the DNP program. Students must also report immunizations. Information about submitting criminal background checks and immunizations will be sent to students prior to starting Clinical Immersion. Procedure for Criminal Background Checks 1. Students in the DNP program will have a criminal background check before beginning clinical/practicum courses. Faculty will work with students to assure that checks are done in a timely fashion, one semester prior to entering the Clinical Immersion course. 2. Students will be directed to the Certified Background Check website to complete the required criminal background check. Details about obtaining the background check will be provided to the student at the time of the background check. Results of the background check must be available to the Coordinator of the student s program before the student may participate in clinical experiences. 3. The School of Nursing does not require drug tests as part of the background check. However, students are advised that drug testing may be required by particular clinical agencies. Drug testing is offered by the same company that completes the background check. See also Appendix 2 for the WVU policy on drug and alcohol testing. 4. If the background check indicates a criminal history, the coordinator will meet with the student to plan a course of action that may include notifying Boards of Nursing and

20 20 clinical agencies. 5. If the student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, the student will not be able to complete clinical course requirements, and, therefore, will not be able to meet requirements to complete the DNP program. 6. Students who have been charged with or convicted of a crime may be subject to suspension or dismissal from nursing courses. Registration for Courses Registration for courses must be done only after consulting with the advisor. Course offerings are listed in the Schedule of Courses, which is published each semester, typically near the middle of the term. The Schedule of Courses is available on the WVU Office of the Registrar website: ( Keep in mind that the most current information about course offerings and times is available on the WVU Office of the Registrar website. Students should make and keep their own copies of all forms, documents, letters, etc. that relate to progression or academic standing in the program. Examples include: registration forms, grade reports, and grade modification forms. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing as a graduate student. The student should contact his or her advisor immediately if the GPA falls below this standard or if a grade of C or lower is received in a nursing course. Writing Expectations The DNP is a professional doctorate, which prepares the nurse to function at the highest level. As such, it requires high level writing skills. WVU School of Nursing adopted a writing plan for all graduate programs below: 1. All faculty will refuse to accept poor writing and will actively promote good writing. 2. Students writing skills will be reinforced from course to course over the curriculum. 3. One writing assignment will be required in every course. 4. A standard rubric to evaluate writing will be used in all courses (Appendix 10). 5. Two books will be the standard writing resources for every course. American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Venolia, J. (2001). Write right: A desktop digest of punctuation, grammar, and style. (4 th ed.). Berkley, CA: Ten Speed Press. 6. Faculty will not allow re-writes of final submitted papers. 7. If a teacher decides to accept drafts, he or she must incorporate in the syllabus expectations for the drafts and the final submissions.

21 21 8. All students are encouraged to have a non-peer proof reader, who is willing to critically analyze writing. 9. Standard writing resources will be used to improve students writing as follows: a. Writing in the Sciences, a Coursera course produced by Stanford University. This course will be required for all students entering doctoral programs. It can be found at The course is archived, so students will listen to lectures, but will not complete activities or quizzes. b. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (Perdue OWL), This includes online writing tutorials that can be used as needed. c. Drake University, A Writing Tutorial for Graduate Students, This is a clearinghouse of writing resources that can be used as needed. Responsible Conduct of Research Graduate students at West Virginia University are required to meet particular federal and University-wide standards regarding the responsible conduct of research (RCR). To meet these standards, students must complete an online RCR course offered by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). The student can take the course any time after receipt of acceptance in the program but it must be completed within 30 days of the beginning of the initial semester. Failure to complete this training may affect your status within the School of Nursing and the University in general. To complete the CITI RCR course follow the steps below: 1. Navigate your browser to 2. Click on the Register link 3. For registration question one, enter West Virginia University into Participating Institutions and go to step two, leaving all other fields blank 4. Enter your desired username and password (please make record of both, but if you forget these, they can be ed to you if you contact the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance), then go to step three 5. Follow the directions for the remainder of the questions 6. When asked to indicate which RCR course you would like to take, choose the Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course. 7. On Question 2, check the Conflict of Interest box. 8. On Question 3, choose Social and Behavioral Research Investigators (Human Subjects Research). If you have already taken this course, you can alternately click (Refresher Course) \ 9. Scroll down to click the Submit button 10. On the next page, click the No button 11. You will then be taken to your CITI Main Menu. Here, you will need to click Enter next to the RCR course you selected, then click on The Integrity Assurance Statement to begin your course. You can repeat this process for the Conflict of Interest and Social and Behavioral Research Investigators courses. 12. You must complete all Elective modules (the first listing shown) with an 80% score or higher to complete the course, but you may close your browser and complete each module at your leisure.

22 22 Once the student has completed the course, the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) will be immediately notified. There is no need to submit any paperwork to ORIC. For questions about the RCR requirements or advice on which RCR course to complete, please call the ORIC at Progression and Graduation Standards In order to progress in the Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum, a student must meet the following performance standards: 1. An overall academic grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in all work attempted in the DNP Program. A student who falls below the 3.0 GPA on nine or more credit hours has one semester to bring up the GPA to the 3.0 requirement. 2. Only one nursing course may be repeated, and only one time. 3. Only one C grade in a nursing course. A second C in a nursing course will result in dismissal from the program. 4. No grade of D or F in any course. A grade of D or F in any course results in dismissal from the program. 5. All required courses must be taken for letter grades (A, B, C). Appeal processes for the DNP program follow the West Virginia University guidelines and can be found in the WVU Health Sciences Catalog. Students considering an appeal should contact their academic advisor. Transfer of Course Work Twelve semester credits of course work with a grade of B or better may be transferred from institutions accredited at the graduate level with permission of the Associate Dean for Graduate Practice Programs. A student wishing to transfer credit from another institution must confer with his or her academic advisor and obtain a transfer of graduate credit form from the Office of Student Services. (See Appendix 6 for a copy of this form.) This form requires the signature of the Associate Dean for Graduate Practice Programs. The student should provide information about the course for transfer including the name of the institution with address and zip code, the course number and the name, and the course descriptions and syllabi as published by that institution. Also include the WVU course it replaces or the requirement it meets. Courses for transfer will be evaluated for equivalency by the Associate Dean and appropriate graduate faculty. Final approval of coursework for transfer is granted by the Associate Dean. The student must have an official transcript from the other institution sent to the Office of the University Registrar. Failure to submit an original transcript will result in nullification of the transfer of credit.

23 23 Credit by Advanced Standing Guidelines West Virginia University honors credit by examination from external tests such as CLEP and Advanced Placement and from internal, departmental, or school examinations. Since University policy only allows 12 credit hours of coursework to be transferred from another university, no more than 12 credits can be requested for credit by advanced standing examination. The form of these examinations may include, but is not limited to, pencil-and-paper tests, computer administered tests, or practical demonstrations of skills and knowledge. Eligibility 1. The student and the advisor believe that the student has the knowledge and skills contained in a course and the student wishes to establish credit by examination. 2. The opportunity to establish credit by examination is available to all students admitted to the School of Nursing. Registered nurse students may complete advanced standing examinations after admission, but prior to initial enrollment in WVU or nursing courses. 3. The student's official record does not show credit for the course (i.e., any grade of S, P, A, B, C, D, I). 4. The student is not officially enrolled in the course. A student who withdraws from a course after the end of the official registration period for a semester is not eligible to challenge the course in that semester. 5. The student may challenge the same course by examination only two times. Procedure 1. The student and advisor discuss the feasibility of establishing credit by examination. 2. The student obtains the Application for Advanced Standing Examination (Appendix 7) from the School of Nursing Office of Student Services in Morgantown or Charleston Division Nursing Office and completes it with the assistance of the advisor. 3. The student makes an appointment with the instructor of the course to be challenged. At that meeting, the student will obtain the instructor's signature and should discuss the availability of study materials and the timing and format for the examination. The provision of study materials and the timing and format for the examination are the prerogative of the instructor. 4. The instructor sends the completed Application for Advanced Standing Examination to the HSC Office of Admissions or Charleston Division Office of Student Affairs. The student will be assessed the fee through his/her student account. The student will go to to pay electronically. Admissions & Records will send the appropriate form to document the outcomes of the examination to the instructor. 5. The student is responsible to arrange with the instructor for the actual examination. 6. The course instructor is responsible to document the outcomes of the examination to Admissions and Records and the student. 7. The advisor is responsible to make certain that the course credit appears on the student's

24 24 transcript, if the student is successful. Degree Requirements The following requirements must be met to qualify for graduation: Complete or more semester credit hours (dependent on program of study). Remove all conditions, deficiencies, and incomplete grades. Credit hours for courses in which the grade is lower than C will not count toward satisfying graduate degree requirements. Register for course work in the semester of graduation. This does not include completion of request to remove a grade of incomplete. Complete and document all clinical hours in the DNP Log, making sure all DNP Essentials have been met. Complete and document community service hours recorded in SOLE. (See Appendix 4 for community service guidelines. Health Insurance and Responsibility for Medical Expenses Requirements Students must have health insurance while they are enrolled in the WVU School of Nursing. Health insurance is available through the Student Health for students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits. Students who have private health insurance can apply for a waiver of insurance coverage through WVU. The waiver application to show proof of insurance and opt-out of the WVU sponsored health insurance plan is available at Students will be required to sign a waiver before they can participate in clinical nursing courses, stating that they are responsible for any medical expenses incurred during enrollment at the University, and that the University and any clinical agency where they have clinical practice as part of enrollment will not be responsible for any medical expense. School of Nursing Financial Aid Meritorious Student Tuition Waiver The School of Nursing may have available a limited number of meritorious tuition waivers to retain high quality graduate students. Priority is given to students in the doctoral programs. No student with a grade of incomplete in the previous semester will be awarded meritorious tuition waivers. Students must be making progress through the program following a standard progression pattern for the program in which they are enrolled. Meritorious tuition waivers are based on the number of credits allocated to the School of Nursing and the criteria described below. There is no guarantee that meritorious tuition waivers will be available each semester. Eligibility: Admitted to the program with regular admission status and completion of at least one semester with a minimum GPA of 3.6

25 25 Credits awarded: Up to six credits to WV residents and up to 3 credits to out of state students per semester based on availability of funding. Criteria: GPA of 3.6 and demonstration of progress in the program in a standard progression pattern (outlined in the DNP Handbook). Deadlines for receipt of graduate meritorious waiver applications follow: For Fall Term Waivers: June 10th For Spring Term Waivers: October 10th For Summer Term Waivers: March 10th Meritorious tuition waivers cover University tuition only. Health Sciences tuition and all fees are paid by the student. To be considered for a meritorious tuition waiver, please click on the link below and complete the online form. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. You will receive a reply that your form has been received. Print this reply for your records. Meritorious-Waiver-Policy Other Forms of Financial Aid For information concerning other forms of financial assistance available to students and application forms contact: HSC Financial Aid Office Health Sciences North PO Box 9810 Morgantown, WV Telephone 304/ Tuition and Transportation Students pay tuition and fees shown in the WVU Health Sciences Center Catalog, plus special fees and deposits as required. Fees are subject to change without notice. Students' expenses vary widely according to their individual course of study. Students are expected to provide their own transportation, equipment, and instruments for the clinical courses. Specific immunizations, including hepatitis B, are required. Criminal background checks also have additional costs. Some clinical experiences require the student to travel in a multi-county area. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to all clinical experiences.